GENETICS You are the scientific advisor to your congressperson. There is a bill before the Senate that would make laws regarding the use of genetic research and information. You must gather the information for your Congressperson so that he/she can make an informed decision on this issue. It is likely that there will be many debates on the floor of Congress, so be prepared to give as many facts as possible, not just opinions. It will be important to understand both sides of the issue. UNIT SUMMARY - Students will work individually, in groups, and as a class to explore the aspects of Genetics. These aspects address issues such as the technical aspects of genetics (genetically modified foods, cloning, and the Human Genome Project). This information will be shared with the class and then the class as a whole will need to determine how research dollars should be spent on these issues in the future. ESSENTIAL QUESTION - Just because we can, should we? UNIT QUESTIONS - 1. There are now many food products that are genetically modified. What does that mean? Should it continue? Should these food products have warning labels? Are there any dangers to genetically modified food? 2. Some scientists hope to someday be able to clone human cells or complete humans. Is it possible? Should this research continue? What might be the benefits? Who might benefit? What would be the risks? 3. Many scientists are currently working with what has been learned from the Human Genome Project. This research will take a lot of money to continue. What goals do they have for using this information? Should the government provide or continue to provide funding for this project? What are the benefits? Who would benefit? Are there any risks? CONTENT QUESTIONS - Are bio-engineered foods safe?What are genetically modified foods?What is cloning?What is the Human Genome Project?What are stem cells?
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